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Beliefs and the Perception of Risks and Accidents

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  • Dongo Rémi Kouabenan

Abstract

Identifying the causes of accidents is a necessary prerequisite for preventive action. Some research suggests however that the analysis of accidents does not only differ between experts and laymen but that it is also linked to certain characteristics inherent in the analyst and in the social group to which he belongs: beliefs, value systems, norms, experiences in common, attitudes, roles, social and technical practices, etc. Culturally determined bias seems to affect the perception of risk and the causes of accidents. This article presents a certain number of thoughts and results based upon research carried out on causal attributions of traffic accidents in The Ivory Coast (West Africa) and discusses the importance of culture in risk‐taking and accident prevention. It shows in particular that fatalistic beliefs and mystical practices influence the perception of accidents and consequently incite one to take more risks and neglect safety measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongo Rémi Kouabenan, 1998. "Beliefs and the Perception of Risks and Accidents," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 243-252, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:18:y:1998:i:3:p:243-252
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1998.tb01291.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James Flynn & Paul Slovic & C. K. Mertz, 1993. "Decidedly Different: Expert and Public Views of Risks from a Radioactive Waste Repository," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(6), pages 643-648, December.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Laura N. Rickard, 2014. "Perception of Risk and the Attribution of Responsibility for Accidents," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(3), pages 514-528, March.
    4. Mingyu Liu & Jianping Wu & Adnan Yousaf & Linyang Wang & Kezhen Hu & Katherine L. Plant & Rich C. McIlroy & Neville A. Stanton, 2021. "Exploring the Relationship between Attitudes, Risk Perceptions, Fatalistic Beliefs, and Pedestrian Behaviors in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Rose Luke, 2023. "Current and Future Trends in Driver Behaviour and Traffic Safety Scholarship: An African Research Agenda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    6. Danièle Hermand & Serge Karsenty & Yves Py & Laurent Guillet & Bruno Chauvin & Arnaud Simeone & María Teresa & Muñoz Sastre & Etienne Mullet, 2003. "Risk Target: An Interactive Context Factor in Risk Perception," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 821-828, August.
    7. Donna M. Riley & C. Alison Newby & Tomás O. Leal‐Almeraz, 2006. "Incorporating Ethnographic Methods in Multidisciplinary Approaches to Risk Assessment and Communication: Cultural and Religious Uses of Mercury in Latino and Caribbean Communities," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5), pages 1205-1221, October.
    8. Shahram Heydari & Adrian Hickford & Rich McIlroy & Jeff Turner & Abdulgafoor M. Bachani, 2019. "Road Safety in Low-Income Countries: State of Knowledge and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-29, November.
    9. Laura N. Rickard & Z. Janet Yang & Jonathon P. Schuldt & Gina M. Eosco & Clifford W. Scherer & Ricardo A. Daziano, 2017. "Sizing Up a Superstorm: Exploring the Role of Recalled Experience and Attribution of Responsibility in Judgments of Future Hurricane Risk," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(12), pages 2334-2349, December.
    10. Becheur, Imene & Guizani, Haithem & Shaaban, Khaled, 2019. "Belief in fate and self-efficacy in road safety advertising based on guilt: An explanation based on negotiable fate," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 233-241.

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